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Series and Season: Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2

Episode #,and Episode Name: 13 – “Obsession”, 14 – “Wolf in the Fold”, 15 – “The Trouble with Tribbles”, and 16 – “The Gamesters of Triskelion”

Setting the Stage: I started at 12 pm on January 18, 2020, still watching Netflix and using their viewing order. Professor Zoom was attached to my side for all four episodes, husband sat in on Tribbles, and all of the cats were around at one point or another. Today was laundry day, so it took longer to get through the episodes for the various breaks of walk down the stairs, move the things, start the machines, rinse and repeat. There was also a break for burgers and soda at one of our favorite places, Corbett’s. Tonight, I am writing to a mix of Daft Punk and El Ten Eleven.

For those who are unaware, I was not an English major. English is my first language, but I have never been much of a speller. I do try my best to edit before I post, but I’m also usually posting late at night and when I’m super tired. I appreciate those who have pointed out typos and I’ll do my best to keep a better eye out. One of my favorite writers, Laurell K. Hamilton, posted this on social media a while ago, and it’s stuck with me ever since.

Quick Summary with my Impressions: “Obsession” opens with Kirk and Spock surveying a rock when a strange white cloud appears in the background, and Kirk has a sensory memory. As security goes to check things out the men are attacked and only one survives, albeit briefly. Kirk and a bunch of security beam back down, two of the men are attacked but one gets a shot off. Scotty, McCoy, and Spock all believe that they should move onto deliver the vaccines, but Kirk is obsessed (hence the title of the episode). I’m glad they made it clear by naming the episode that, having Shatner act it out, and having Spock point it out. Really, I wouldn’t have gotten it otherwise.

Spock relays to McCoy that Kirk was on the U. S. S. Farragut when this same entity attacked over 200 crew members and the new security guard that froze, is the son of the captain that was killed all of those years ago. Kirk feels guilty while also wondering if he is making the right decision, and he’s quite emotional and a bit irrational. This totally makes sense, he has a bit of PTSD and is on a one-man mission to destroy this thing once and for all. McCoy and Spock prepare a medical entry to decide if Kirk has lost it, and Kirk begins to get a little paranoid that everyone is conspiring against him. The cloud runs out to space, but then enters the Enterprise, and doesn’t find Spock too tasty. Kirk realizes the phaser won’t make a difference, but Scotty might have a fix. After some dramatics, the smoke monster is blown up and the transporter works the way it was intended, at the most dramatic last minute ever. This episode was a solid 6 for me, but I’m not sure why. I like seeing Kirk a little out of character, a little out of control, but it was too neat and clean to have the new guy be the son of the captain who died, and then new guy makes the same damn mistake Kirk did 11 years ago? Come on!

“Wolf in the Fold” begins with Scotty, McCoy, and Kirk watching a belly dancer, and the scene goes on forever. I get it, she’s dancing, let’s move on. Scotty takes the dancer out for a walk but is later found with a knife in his hand, and the dancer has been stabbed… another murder mystery, hoorah! No seriously, I absolutely love murder mysteries. A technician from the Enterprise beams down to work some magic on Scotty, but she is also stabbed, again appearing like it was Scotty. I suspect someone is framing him, but it’s too hard to tell how. As the wife of the Prefect is killed, and Scotty is standing over her with a knife, they decide to go to the Enterprise to use the capability of the computer. Although Scotty doesn’t remember anything about the first two murders, he suspects there is something – not someone – that killed the wife. Okay, I did NOT see Jack the Ripper coming. They also did that on Babylon 5, by the way. I know, Babylon 5 came after, but interesting to see where the idea might have come from.

The administrator that came from Rigel IV is clearly up to something, he’s been blaming Scotty the whole time and against anything that tries to blame someone else, when we find out the murders on Rigel IV came just one year ago… dun dun dun. “Jack” gets loose in the computer of the ship and starts to control all things, including life support. Everyone gets an injection of sedatives in order to stave off the fear, Sulu is high as fuck and plays it well, while Spock orders the computer to try and evaluate the last digit of Pi (which is not possible) in order to push Jack out of the computer. The spirit of Jack keeps jumping from body to body until they are able to put it into space. Everyone on the crew, except Spock and Kirk, are high from the sedative and we end scene.

So I totally knew something was up with the guy who turned out to be hiding Jack’s spirit, but I didn’t see Jack the Ripper coming. I mean I should have with all the stab wounds, but I didn’t. McCoy does everything he can this episode to try to steer those in charge to the conclusion that either Scotty could never, or if he did it was because of the concussion. Sure, random multiple stabbing of women is totally possible for a concussed man because it was a woman that caused the concussion. First off, that woman was an android (if I’m remembering which time Scotty got his ass handed to him correctly, there have been quite a few this season), and secondly that’s not how the brain works! /end rant/ I still enjoyed the plot twist, although it was at the sake of three women and Kirk doesn’t get as bent out of shape about losing this particular crew member as he does the men, but we’ll chalk that up to the 60’s. This episode receives 6 and three-quarter polka dots from me.

“The Trouble with Tribbles” is an episode that came with a lot of hype, and I absolutely loved it. The Enterprise is heading toward a planet that has both Federation and Klingon claims, the Organian peace treaty from Season 1 is mentioned, and then there’s a Priority 1 distress call and they head to the space station that’s, wait *checks notes*, not actually in distress. Oh great there are two men in suits being asses, and Spock puts them in their place with his superior knowledge. Kirk is aghast that they’ve been called to protect wheat (okay it’s something else that has a long name), but they stay anyway and some of the crew gets shore leave. Uhura falls in love with a Tribble (cute little purring ball of fur), but it begins to eat some of the wheat-stuff and I’m instantly going “oh no”. I know it will be important later. The trader gives Uhura the Tribble and life goes on… for now.

The Klingons have arrived but not to attack, instead to invoke shore leave. Back on the Enterprise, the Tribble has procreated and everyone, including Spock is enamoured. Scotty tells Chekov to calm down when the Captain is insulted, but then the drunk Klingon insults the Enterprise and Scotty gets a nice right hook in. One does not simply insult Scotty’s lady love, so we have a BAR FIGHT! Back in sickbay, the Tribbles are multiplying. McCoy and Spock share a sassy exchange, and everyone starts to realize that the Tribbles have infiltrated all areas of the ship, including the bridge. The sheer number of Tribbles is ridiculous and the comedy factor is off the charts, including when Kirk opens the grain silo and the Tribbles all fall out, an exact number that Spock calculates in seconds.

Some of them are dead and Kirk believes that there is something wrong with the grain or possibly the Tribbles. Apparently Tribbles do not like Klingons and they react poorly to the assistant as he enters the room… guess we found the spy! In true I Love Lucy style, the trader begins stuffing Tribbles anywhere he can. Back on the Enterprise, everyone seems apprehensive to tell Kirk what happened to the Tribbles. Apparently, Scotty transported them into the Klingon ship’s engine room, and here I am laughing 5 hours later. That ending alone makes the entire episode worth it. I’m not sure what I ranked “Amok Time”, but this is my second favorite episode after that. As RuPaul would say, “10s, 10s across the board”.

“The Gamesters of Triskelion” have Kirk, Uhura, and Chekov land somewhere they did not anticipate and they are surrounded by four strangers with weapons. Our three heroes are going to be trained to be slaves, apparently. WHAT IS GOING ON IN Uhura’s CELL? Guys, this is NOT okay. Oh dear lord, Chekov is a babe in the woods in this episode. Kirk is doing what Kirk does best, laying the charm on thick in order to get information. During training they do not want to participate, but Kirk winds up impressing the providers and they are all sold. We get some more shirtless, flirty Kirk and the Enterprise is on a wild goose chase to try and find their three missing crew members. The providers are finally displayed and they are… tiny little brains? What the hell is going on in this episode? Didn’t these brains get the note that humans don’t like being enslaved? I mean it was part of the pilot episode. Kirk figures out they like to gamble, but so does he and Kirk wins, of course. The slaves are freed and will be trained, while the Enterprise gets to go free and back on their merry way.

I have SO MANY PROBLEMS with this episode. I can’t even. Therefore, I will simply tell you this is the worst episode of Star Trek I have watched so far. Unfortunately, I am told there are still worse ones to come. Le sigh. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better. We’re in the second half of the second season, as well as the second half of January. Progress is being made!

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Series and Season: Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2

Episode #,and Episode Name: 11 – “Friday’s Child” and 12 – “The Deadly Years”

Setting the Stage: I started at 7:30 pm on January 17th, 2020 still watching via Netflix and using their episode order. I am with the (now) usual suspects: my husband, Tempura, and Professor Zoom. I am back to listening to instrumental music while I work, something I picked up in my undergraduate years. If I work while listening to songs that have lyrics, the lyrics either distract me or wind up in my writing. Tonight is a blend of Hans Zimmer (Man of Steel soundtrack), The London Symphony Orchestra (Star Wars), and Minus the Bear. For those of you who have caught on to my many Star Wars references, or for those who are new and have this ridiculous idea that you have to choose, I say…

Quick Summary with my Impressions: “Friday’s Child” has McCoy giving a report on a new planet. There are tall people with weapons, the Klingons are back, and a red shirt gets killed – all in the first five minutes, oh my! Two of the tribe leaders seems to be in conflict over who to barter with; will they choose the Federation or the Klingon Empire? The leader who liked the Federation is dead, killed in the scuffle, and the one who had a deal with the Klingons is now in charge. Kirk’s quick thinking helps the new leader consider his options, but then he touches the pregnant wife of the old leader (to stop her from being killed) and gets himself in trouble. The Enterprise leaves orbit to assist with another Federation vessel after failing to communicate with the landing party, Scotty is at the helm. This Klingon delegate doesn’t seem as “Klingon” as the last leader we encountered. He seems anxious and, to be honest, a little on the cowardly side. Husband tells me that if we knew any Klingons, they would have to kill me for writing that. McCoy has awful bedside manner, as usual, and SLAPS A PREGNANT WOMAN! I mean, she slapped him twice but daaaaamn son. Spock makes the rocks explode, and the dudes wearing muppet fur take a dive. Back on the Enterprise, Scotty figures out it’s a trap!

The baby is born while Spock and Kirk make bows, the kind you use to shoot arrows and not the kind you might put on a baby’s head. Spock doesn’t want to hold the baby (I relate to him more and more) and McCoy is apparently now the assumed father? Ummm, okay so new mom just bounces up after having a child – I’m pretty sure that’s not how that works. But she lies to the incoming party, telling them her child and the Enterprise crew are dead, interesting. The Klingon wants to verify her story, but Spock and Kirk attack and there’s a whole lot of fighting and even more dead men. Watching McCoy coo over the baby is ridiculous and we have a mostly happy ending.

I liked some of the things in this episode, like the woman becoming the regent at the end, the tribe reviewing all offers for whom to trade with, and Kirk’s outrage over his killed crew member, but a lot of other things felt off or I wasn’t very fond of. Overall I give this episode a 5.2, especially because they killed muppets. Faux fur or bust!

“The Deadly Years” has the landing party arriving to a seemingly empty outpost. Chekov finds an elderly man, who apparently died of old age, until Spock reveals no one was over the age of 40. Two other old people show up, and we find out that they have aged decades in a matter of weeks. Back on the ship, everyone except for Chekov starts to show signs of aging (forgetfulness, hearing loss, etc.) and we again see shirtless Kirk. I wonder if he had something in his contract about it? Why does McCoy’s accent get more Southern as he gets more agitated? It’s not a good Southern either, it’s much to drawn out. Mind you I say that as a Jersey girl who lives in NC, but I digress.

Chekov is talking to himself and Sulu is amused, I am really enjoying the two of them. Spock’s aging makeup is quite subtle, at first, and Kirk’s memory is getting worse by the minute. A competency hearing is created to determine if Kirk is fit to keep running the Enterprise. Wait, why can’t Sulu take command? I mean he’s done it before, I think, sometime in Season 1. As Kirk is deemed unfit, so is Spock who is now most certainly showing more signs of aging and is quite cold. The Commodore takes over, like we haven’t seen that before, but just then the Romulans attack! The Commodore freezes, unable to give commands to the crew, but of course the shot works just in time for Kirk to take back over. Oooh, we get a throw back to corbomite and Kirk really knows how to bluff like that best of them. He catches the Romulans off guard and makes an escape, while everyone else gets the injections to save their lives.

I liked the subtle ways the aging started to affect each crew member, but it disappoints me that Kirk wasn’t more upset about losing the female medical crew member as he has been for the various red shirts that have died in recent episodes. I also feel like random Commodore was played very stiff and I’m not even sure why he was there. Maybe I missed something earlier in the episode, or because I’m not watching in production order, but whatever the reason he was not great. Overall, I also give this episode a 5.2 on the corbomite scale.

I have to say I really liked the throwbacks in both of these episodes to things from Season 1 with the return of the Klingons, Romulans, and even Corbomite. A few episodes ago we saw the return of Mudd, so maybe we’ll continue to see some more things that are familiar as time goes on. Until tomorrow…

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Series and Season: Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2

Episode #,and Episode Name: 8 – “I, Mudd”, 9 – “Metamorphosis”, and 10 – “Journey to Babel”

Setting the Stage: I started at 7:30 pm on January 16th, 2020 with the husband, Tempura (on his lap), and Professor Zoom laying next to me and feeling MUCH better than he was yesterday. I took a nap earlier today and I feel better too. Remember, kids, you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. Oh, and I’m still watching via Netflix and using their episode order.

Quick Summary with my Impressions: “I, Mudd” begins with a discussion where McCoy puts his foot in his mouth with Spock, but tries to make up for it by complimenting his ears. The new guy on the ship does something and Sulu can’t take back over navigation, he also busts into engineering and is a one man fighting show, owning everyone, and then heads up to the bridge. Turns out new guy is an android and has the Shatner comma down pat, because that’s how androids talk apparently. At least he’s a polite android. Oh no, it’s Harry Mudd! He’s the “lord” of a world of androids and he wants to leave the planet and put the crew of the Enterprise in his place. Kirk is not swayed, unlike his crew, he has only a one track mind – the Enterprise. Okay, does no woman wear a bra in space?!

The androids decide they need to take over the galaxy in order to control the humans, they’re too greedy and need someone to take care of them. Kirk comes up with a plan, and… what the what is going on with the dancing? Oh, they are trying to break the minds of the androids, like we haven’t seen that before. Can you hear my eyes rolling? Okay the shenanigans and tomfoolery the crew is doing for the benefit of breaking the minds of the androids is amazing and ridiculous. I absolutely love it, this one is the best of “I’m going to talk the machine to death and break it’s logical brain” so far. Poor Norman. I notice the trend of this season is for our three leading men to have the last word in a closed circle. Harry Mudd is to be stranded while the androids are re-programmed, and he gets a “bonus” caretaker – many android versions of his wife who will certainly nag him to death, poor bastard. The comedy factor on this episode puts it at a solid 8 for me. I’m still laughing hours later.

“Metamorphosis” starts with our three leading men in the Galileo shuttle transporting a commissioner who has contracted some sort of disease when a cloud approaches and strands the shuttle on a nearby planet. They meet some dude who seems to be obsessed with the commissioner, ooooh a woman. Kirk and McCoy think Cochran looks familiar, and they endeavor to find out why. Apparently, he is 150 years old and was important to the history of the Federation. He has a “companion”, a piece of light that brought the crew there to keep him company. Kirk asks Cochran to see if his companion will heal the commissioner, which it says it will not, and then it attacks Spock. The device Spock says “can’t fail” does, and the companion attacks Kirk and Spock. They figure out how to communicate with the companion, who is apparently a female entity and in love with Cochran. Cochran shows his old timey ways by being totally disgusted by the love the companion has for him, apparently it is unnatural. Kirk apparently has a knack for talking to logical entities and trying to get them to understand why they need to do what he asks. Suddenly the commissioner is up and well, because the companion has taken over her body and merged with her. The soft glow shown over female characters is back while Cochran and the commissioner/companion hybrid go fall in love. The Enterprise comes back for the crew, but Cochran decides to stay with his new-ish lady love and they endeavor to grow old together. This was a strange episode, which eventually made sense and had a sweet ending. I give it a solid 6 copper pennies.

“Journey to Babel” has the Enterprise picking up delegates, the last of which are Vulcans… and Spock’s parents! Apparently Sarek holds a grudge against Spock for not staying on Vulcan and going to their Science Academy, which I have to point out is a human emotion, as is stubbornness. Spock had a teddy bear-like creature when he was a child (called a sehlat) and that’s the most adorable thing ever, even if it has fangs. Of course, they found a way to show shirtless Kirk and now there’s a murder mystery! Sarek is not well and needs blood, which Spock is a match and offers at first but then Kirk is attacked, there’s another ship after the Enterprise, and Spock chooses duty over saving his father… the plot thickens. More shirtless Kirk! Kirk and McCoy lie to Spock to get him to sickbay, but the alien vessel is getting closer and Kirk stays in command. Someone on board is a spy and Kirk destroys the alien vessel, but the vessel and spy both commit suicide rather than be questioned. However, Spock and Kirk figure out who was behind the attacks and McCoy gets to yell at everyone for not following their doctor’s orders.

Here’s my favorite part of the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN0oVavm2Eo

I enjoyed that there was intrigue, political banter, a murder mystery, a medical issue, and family drama all in one episode. I also enjoyed that Spock’s mom, Amanda, was still very much human, and very much a mom, despite having lived on Vulcan for many years. Also, at least she was wearing a bra in space! Her husband and son were able to have a quick bonding moment over her emotional outburst, but I’m sure she knew that would happen anyway – moms always know! I give this episode 8 fresh mozzarella balls and a side of balsamic vinegar. Until tomorrow, my friends!

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Series and Season: Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2

Episode #,and Episode Name: 6 – “The Doomsday Machine” and 7 – “Catspaw”

Setting the Stage: I started at 6:45 pm on January 15th, 2020 with the husband, Tempura (on his lap), and our sick pupper (he has an upset stomach) on my lap. I’m still watching via Netflix and using their episode order. The plan was for three episodes today, but that clearly didn’t happen. Sorry kids, maybe tomorrow!

Quick Summary with my Impressions: “The Doomsday Machine” starts out with no Uhura, seven planets that seem to have vanished, and a broken down U.S.S. Constellation. While surveying the ship, Kirk finds Commodore Decker in a total state of shock and PTSD. They apparently encountered a planet killer (think some strange combination of Galactus and the Death Star) that proceeded to kill the planet Decker sent his crew to, and he is devastated. At first Decker defers to Kirk, but later seems to grow a backbone and is hellbent on destroying the machine. Apparently, this is the season of the broken transporter. Decker tries everything he can to destroy the machine, and won’t give up. Eventually he commandeers one of the shuttles and rams it into the machine, killing himself in the process. This gives Kirk the idea to do the same with the Constellation, but with the transporter on the fritz we get a very dramatic last second rescue of Kirk. I mean, obviously you can’t kill Shatner… but they wanted to keep us on the edge of our seats. The plan works, our heroes escape, and the machine is dead! I liked the drama of this episode, no matter how over the top it was, but I wasn’t so keen on Decker (or the actor who played him). I give this episode 4 tomatoes and a carrot.

“Catspaw” sees Uhura back in her rightful place on the bridge, but wait… why aren’t Scotty and Sulu beaming back? The guy who beams back dies almost as soon as he arrives and a strange, beaming voice warns that there’s a curse on the ship and they should leave or they will all die, how dramatic! Our three leading men beam down and they encounter three old lady apparitions. Sassy Spock is back, a castle appears in the distance, and there’s a KITTY (that’s apparently scared of Spock, haha). Back on the Enterprise some random red shirt is in command, what’s up with that? I mean, I get that all 5 of the usual command staff is down below… but who is this guy?

Our three heroes find Scotty and Sulu, who are clearly under some mind control or drugs, and they encounter a wizard of sorts named Korob. Korob has a black cat, who turns out to be a woman named Sylvia, and they have immense power to cause things to appear and happen with just a thought. Sylvia has the hots for Kirk. I mean who else was going to get some kissing time on screen? However, she realizes that Kirk is using her and she freaks out. Korob realizes that Sylvia has gone off the deep end and tries to help the landing party. Eventually, Kirk destroys the transmuter and everything disappears and is set back to normal. We are left with these weird looking aliens that die within a minute.

What strikes me about this episode is how much Kirk cares and feels the loss of every crew member. He seems to take it to heart, even if only for a little, and he really understands that he is making life and death decisions all the time. No matter his other flaws, he really does try to be the best captain who attempts to make the best decisions for the majority of his crew. I liked the ridiculousness of this episode, so I give it solid gold 7.

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Series and Season: Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2

Episode #, and Episode Name: 4 – “Mirror, Mirror” and 5 – “The Apple”

Setting the Stage: I started at 8:00 pm on January 14th, 2020 with the husband and pupper, mostly because husband requested to watch this one with me because “it’s important”. I watched the second while working out, but it was a long day and I’m exhausted, so only two episodes today. I’m still watching via Netflix and using their episode order.

As a point of order, a dear friend of mine (and Trek fan since birth) pointed out that the Season 2 credits did change a bit… they now list Kelley in the credits. I totally missed that in my last post, my bad Bones!

Quick Summary with my Impressions: “Mirror, Mirror” starts off with four of the crew being sent to the Mirror Universe. It’s interesting that I’ve seen so many versions of it, but now I get to see the original. Spock is sporting a beard, everyone has funky outfits, and apparently corporal punishment is a thing on the Mirror Enterprise. Kirk seems to jump to the correct conclusion quite quickly and this is not the first time that’s happened. The leap in logic is a little much for me. They really are laying the Nazi stuff on thick this episode, like we didn’t already know this universe was supposed to be the “bad” one. Oh Sulu that’s not a good look on you, and I’m not talking about the scar but instead his intentions toward Uhura. Chekov is an ambitious little Slytherin in this episode, but gets owned. In our Enterprise, Spock knows what’s up and imprisons the Mirror landing party. Back on the other ship, Kirk is SHOCKED to find a woman in his bed. Mirror Spock has been ordered to kill Kirk, and Uhura is the biggest badass on the ship when she has it out with Mirror Sulu. Cue the big fight scene, where the Mirror Spock stunt guy totally sticks out like a sore thumb. Mirror Kirk’s lady love takes out most of Mirror Sulu’s men, and the landing party heads to the transporter room where the parties swap back to their respective universes.

I enjoyed this episode as it was the tried and true “good vs. evil” episode, before it was tried and true. I do like Spock better with a beard, and I hate that I agree with McCoy on something. It was fun to see the crew have to act as themselves part of the time, and their “evil” half the other part. I give this episode 9 gold stars and a pat on the head.

In “The Apple” I find that Chekov reminds me of the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but instead of everything being Greek, it’s Russian. Oh no, more killer flowers! Didn’t we do this already? Spock finds a rock and throws it out, only to blow up some part of the path ahead. Scotty is having a problem with the Enterprise, but it’s because of something on the surface of the planet. Why are we having issues with the transporter again? Spock is hit with the same killer flower after pushing Kirk out of the way, and the two men have a very interesting exchange. Wait, now there is killer lightening, what the hell is going on? Kirk is showing uncharacteristic regret about staying on the planet because it cost the lives of three of his men. He’s starting to display the pressure of command. By far the funniest line of the episode is “I wont hurt you”, which is said after Kirk just punched the guy, sigh. We meet the strange villagers who do not understand a lot of concepts and are another set of miracles mysteries to McCoy. I still don’t understand why they thought Spock’s name was so funny. Oh no, not another machine controlling the planet! The machine, Vaal, gets upset when two of the villagers begin to kiss and orders his minions to kill the landing party because they are too dangerous. Kirk seems to be struggling with the impending doom of the Enterprise and its crew, but then has an idea (just in the nick of time) when Vaal wants to be fed. Kirk destroys the machine, “frees” the village, and the Enterprise is back to usual. McCoy and Spock argue scripture a bit, and they make a really awful joke about Spock looking like Satan.

I wasn’t a fan of the dialogue in this episode. Chekov was a total horn dog, the humor between Kirk and Scotty just didn’t land right, and there was a lot of heteronormativity (I know, I know, it’s the 60s). I did like the story line and was glad that Kirk destroyed the machine with phaser beams instead of talking to it until it explodes. I give this episode 4 and three-quarter milkshakes.